No consensus yet on hemp policy

In absence of policy, country could not cultivate hemp for use in medical purposes

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has not been able to cultivate hemp crops owing to delay in finalising the National Hemp Policy on the part of previous PDM government.

Moreover, different stakeholders have failed to develop consensus on the policy.

Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government accorded approval to planting hemp in areas of Punjab and Sindh to use the crop for medical purposes.

The then minister of science and technology Fawad Chaudhry had floated the idea in September 2020.

Later, former prime minister Imran Khan chaired a cabinet meeting and approved a summary.

The objective was to allow the legal production of drug-based plants for the first time.

The then government picked two areas for the cultivation of hemp crops while a piece of land in the constituency of Fawad Chaudhry was also selected for plantation.

However, after the PDM government came to power, it decided to review the policy and took a long time in finalising it.

Different stakeholders like the Science and Technology, National Food Security, Health, Commerce, Industries, Law and Justice, Finance and Defence Divisions, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) and relevant private sector experts failed to reach a consensus on the National Hemp Policy.

The PDM government tried to approve the policy at the fag end of its tenure but cabinet secretary pointed out that there were flaws in the relevant summary.

A draft policy was tabled in a cabinet meeting held at the end of July but it could not be approved.

During discussions in the meeting, the cabinet secretary pointed out that as per Rules of Business 1973, the scrutiny of summaries prior to placing before the cabinet was the responsibility of the Cabinet Division.

Owing to last-minute inclusion of the summary in the agenda, its proper examination could not be carried out.

Pointing to flaws and weaknesses in the summary, the cabinet secretary told the meeting that the paper violated Rules 8(1), 9(1) and 18 (487).

Besides, there was a lack of meaningful consultation with the stakeholders, ie Science and Technology, Food Security, Health, Commerce, Industries, Law and Justice, Finance and Defence Divisions, Drap, Aptma and relevant private sector experts.

He suggested its regulation through legal enactment after building due consensus among the stakeholders.

It was endorsed by the relevant ministers, who also recommended referring the matter to a committee.

The Narcotics Control Division contended that the committee constituted under the chairmanship of the narcotics control minister had consulted all stakeholders.

However, cabinet members were of the view that the consultation remained inconclusive.

It was suggested that a cabinet committee may be constituted to discuss the policy threadbare and give recommendations to the cabinet.

The cabinet considered a summary titled “Pakistan National Hemp Policy” submitted by the Narcotics Control Division and formed a committee whose meetings would be convened by the minister of defence to discuss the policy.

In May 2023, the former PM set up a committee to review the hemp policy.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of federal minister of narcotics control and the federal minister of science and technology on June 22, 2023.

All relevant stakeholders were present where minutes were prepared and circulated.

Replies had been received from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Board of Investment and Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The policy was finalised after due consideration of comments from all stakeholders.

A summary was moved to the prime minister for approval of the National Hemp Policy 2023, which was given the go-ahead by the Prime Minister’s Office on July 19, 2023 with the directive to place it before the federal cabinet.

The finalised draft policy was presented to the cabinet for approval so that cultivation process could begin and the commercialisation of hemp could stimulate economic growth.

However, the cabinet, in its meeting held on July 26, did not give its nod as the cabinet secretary pointed to the lack of consensus among stakeholders on the national hemp policy.